Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
Councils must follow set rules when they spend public money. Of the R137.6 million, R96.5 million was spending from earlier years that was only found in 2024-25, the City's audited statements show. At the end of 2024-25, R1.08 billion of irregular spending was still on the City's books. That means it had not yet been dealt with.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 4, row 199 'City of Ekurhuleni Metro' under 'Financial audits', last three columns: unauthorised '-', irregular 137,6m, fruitless and wasteful '-'.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 197 (PDF page 201), City of Ekurhuleni dashboard: 'Irregular expenditure over administration R0,62bn (4 years)'; 'Unauthorised expenditure over administration R0,40bn (1 year)'; 'Fruitless and wasteful expenditure over administration R0,08bn (3 years)'. Printed page 76 (PDF page 80): '2021-22 (first year of current administration)'.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 28 April 2026.
Where to look: Slide 29 (PDF page 29), 'Closing balances': irregular expenditure 2024-25 R1.08bn (2023-24 R1.00bn); fruitless and wasteful R69 mil; 'Unauthorised expenditure – overspending (Closing Balance) R397 mil'.
City of Ekurhuleni. Published 26 March 2026.
Where to look: Annual financial statements, note 52 (PDF page 793, statements page 101), controlling entity 2025 column: irregular expenditure 'identified in the current year' R41 190 068 and 'identified for the year, relating to prior years' R96 456 742; closing balance R1 083 092 466; no fruitless and wasteful expenditure added in 2025; unauthorised opening and closing balance R397 107 942, nothing added in 2025. Paragraph under the table: remaining amounts 'still under investigation by the MPAC and other organs of state'.
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Nkosindiphile Xhakaza (ANC). Council run by ANC, EFF, African Independent Congress. From Apr 2024 to Feb 2026.
City of Ekurhuleni. Published 18 October 2026.
Where to look: Opening line: 'was elected as the Executive Mayor on 11 April 2024 during an extraordinary council meeting' (page undated; date = day read)
Daily Maverick. Published 11 April 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 3: Xhakaza elected unopposed as executive mayor at an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday 11 April 2024
EWN. Published 15 April 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 (EFF retains its five mayoral committee seats, ANC has four); paragraph 3 (former mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana is MMC for Corporate and Shared Services); the embedded EWN post below the article names him as AIC
Daily Maverick. Published 19 February 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (reshuffle on Tuesday night); paragraph 4 (EFF turned down two posts, had four, pulled out of the coalition); paragraph 6 (coalition of ANC, EFF, ActionSA and PA)
IOL. Published 18 February 2026.
Where to look: Paragraphs 21-22: ActionSA says it was not part of any agreement and will not join the mayor's government
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